Luminaire spiral ring coupling means



Dec. 9, 1969 STARR 3,483,365

LUMINAIRE SPIRAL RING COUPLING MEANS Filed April 10, 196'? Ii will I! EINVENTOR.

GEORGE N. STARR 3,483,365 LUMTNAIRE SRIRAL RING COUPLING MEANS George N.Starr, Memphis, Tenn, assignor to American Electric ManufacturingCorporation, Southaven, Miss. Filed Apr. 10, 1967, Ser. No. 629,729 Int.Cl. F21v 13/04 lU.S. Cl. 240-93 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Acoupling arrangement for a luminaire including a first element orluminaire reflector having an annular external flange, a second elementor luminaire refractor having an annular external flange, and aspiral-shaped coupling ring having a continuous groove or recessextending along the inner circumference of the ring. The coupling ringis adapted to be hand-installed by spiralling the ring over thecoaxially arranged juxtapositioned flanges of the first and secondelements and with the ring in an installed disposition assuming the formof a plane curve spiral and with the opposite end portions of thecoupling ring being in radially overlapping arrangement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The invention relatesto a luminaire coupling means for removably securing or coupling arefractor to a reflector.

Description of the prior art A typical coupling means for securingluminaire refractors and reflectors together is by means of a splitclamping ring. The split clamping ring is secured around the flanges ofthe refractors and reflectors by various means which draw the ends ofthe clamping ring together; screws, springs and toggle lock arrangementshave been employed in drawing the ends of the split-type clamping ringtogether.

Such split-type clamping ring means has presented certain problems: Thesplit ring type clamping means typically does not clamp the entirecircumference of the flanges but a gap is usually present between theclamp ring ends. Such a gap prevents a full 360 clamping action on theflanges of the elements. Also, the projecting springs, screws and toggleprojections are unsightly and detract from the appearance of thecoupling means and from the overall appearance of the completedluminaire assembly. A further disadvantage with certain prior artcoupling means is that considerable time and effort is necessary toelfect the coupling and often various hand tools are required to clampand connect the ends of the coupling ring. In addition, many of theseprior clamping means are relatively complex and expensive tomanufacture.

SUMMARY The concept of the invention is to provide a spiral ringcoupling means which is adapted to be quickly and easily installed onthe external flange portions of luminaire reflectors and refractors. Thering in its inoperative disposition is in the form of a cylindricalhelix and with the diameter of the helix being slightly less than thediameter of the flange portions of the reflector and refractor; the ringin its operative disposition, and when it is installed and functioningto secure the reflector and refractor together, being in the form of aplane curve spiral, that is, lying substantially in a single plane andwith the opposite end portions of the coupling ring preferably being inradially overlapping arrangement. The spiral ring coupling means isquickly and easily removed or installed and the secured elements arereadily manipnited States Patent O ulated or adjusted. The coupling ringof the present invention presents a substantially smooth continuouscircumference and does not present a circumference having screws,springs or toggle lock projections. The smooth circumference of thecoupling ring provides a clean and uncluttered overall appearance anddesign. In addition, it is relatively easy and inexpensive tomanufacture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational viewillustrating the coupling means of the present invention in combinationwith a street luminaire and with a portion of the coupling ring beingbroken away for clarity.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the street luminaire as illustrated in FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical plane sectional view taken as on the line IIIIII ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the coupling ring removed from itsenvironment and arranged in an inoperative disposition.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the coupling ring taken as from FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated in the drawings which shows the invention incombination with a street luminaire indicated 11, and a luminaireincluding a reflector 13 and a refractor 15. Support means (not shown)secured by suitable means to reflector 13 support the luminaire in atypical manner from a street lamp standard (not shown) or the like.

The coupling means of the present invention, indicated 17, includes afirst annular element 19, a second annular element 21, and a spiralclamping ring 23 removably securing annular elements 19, 21 together.

First annular element 19 constitutes the lower circumferential portionof reflector 13 and terminates in a circumferentially extending externalflange portion indicated 25. Flange portion 25 includes a downwardly andoutwardly projecting circumferential proximal portion 27 and a somewhatcylindrical short distal portion 29 integrally secured to proximalportion 27. It will be understood that portion 29 may be omitted withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Second annular element 21 constitutes the upper circumferential portionof refractor 15 and includes a circumferentially extending externalflange portion 31 integrally formed circumferentially along the upperrim portion of refractor 15 and having a horizontally extending lowersurface 32. The circumferentially extending beveled upper surface 33 ofrefractor flange portion 31 is adapted to correspondingly engage thecircumferentially extending beveled undersurface 35 of first annularelement proximal portion 27.

Coupling ring 23 preferably is formed of sheet metal material and, inradial section is substantially U-shaped. It will be understood that thematerial of which ring 23 is formed is preferably reasonably elastic,that is, the characteristics are such that no permanent set is obtainedwhen installed whereby a continuous pressure is maintained, which inaddition to rendering the coupling more effective enables the ring to bereused. Spiral shaped coupling ring 23 preferably extends slightly morethan two complete turns (as shown in the drawings) and terminatesrespectively in overlapped opposite end portions 37, 39 (see FIGS. 2 and4). If desired, the ring 23 may be shortened so that the end portions37, 39 dont overlap, but the ring should extend for at least 1 /2 turns.

Coupling ring 23 includes an upper rim portion 41 extending inwardlyradially and along the inner circumference of the ring; a lower rimportion 43 extending inwardly radially and along the inner circumferenceof the ring and a somewhat cylindrical base portion 45 arranged alongthe outer circumference of the ring and integrally interconnecting upperand lower rim portions 41, 43. Upper rim portion 41 of ring 23 isbeveled along a radial angle corresponding to the radial angle ofreflector flange proximal portion 27. It should be pointed out that itis preferable that at least one of the rim portions 41 or 43 is beveled,as above described for rim portion 41, particularly on the surfaceswhere portions of the ring 23 overlie other portions so that there is awedging or locking action. It will be noted that the greater the forcesacting outwardly on the ring from the inside, the greater the wedging orlocking action. In other words, it is important that there is a wedgingaction and this is accomplished in the example shown by the overlyinginner surface 41a of rim portion 41 being beveled or sloped and theouter surface 41b of the rim portion which inner surface 41a overliesbeing correspondingly beveled or sloped. It will be understood that thiswedging or locking action may be accomplished by other configurations ofring 23 without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. It is not as important that the inner surface 41c of rimportion 41 which contacts flange surface 33 be beveled or sloped, but ifit is beveled as shown, it provides the advantageous feature of wedgingflange portions 25, 31 together. It may be desirable in certainapplications to arrange surfaces 33 and 41c otherwise than on a slope,as for example, they may be arranged horizontally without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the present invention.

The inner surface 43a of rim portion 43 which contacts lower surface 32is preferably horizontal, although surfaces 43a and 32 may be beveled,if desired.

For purposes of clarity in description, coupling ring 23, when it is inan inoperative disposition, will be considered as being in the form of acylindrical helix (FIGS. 4 and 5); when coupling ring 23 is in itsoperative disposition and when it is installed and functioning to securereflector 13 and refractor 15 together will be considered as being inthe form of a plane curve spiral.

Coupling ring 23 is adapted to be fitted around reflector 13 andrefractor 15 in the following manner: Refractor 15 and reflector 13 areconcentrically fitted together and with refractor flange surface 33correspondingly engaging reflector flange surface 35; coupling ring 23is then placed concentrically over reflector 13 with coupling ring endportion 37 engaging reflector and refractor flange portions 25, 31.After end portion 37 of the coupling ring is started on and radiallyarranged over flange portions 25, 31 the remaining length of thecoupling ring may then be spiralled on flanges 25, 31 by progressivelyurging the coupling ring downwardly and around flange portions 25, 31;with ring 23 completely installed in luminaire 11, the opposite endportions 37, 39 are arranged in radially overlapping configuration.

Coupling ring 23 preferably has the same radial dimensions and samecross-sectional form uniformly throughout the length of the couplingring. Although such ring construction provides for economicalmanufacture and provides other desirable features, such a constructionmay not be desirable in every application of the invention. Withreference to FIG. 3 it will be noted that a slight space is presentbetween the respective turns or turn portions of coupling ring baseportion 45. To reduce or eliminate such space between the turns of thecoupling ring and provide a closer fitting ring, it may be desirable incertain applications of the invention to form the coupling ring with aprogressively widening U-shaped contour. As for example, the couplingring may be formed with a progressively widening U-shaped configurationextending from coupling ring end portion 37 to end portion 39.

In order for coupling ring 23 to concentrically fit snugly around firstand second element flange portions 25, 31, the coupling ring is formedto a smaller diameter than the diameter of the flange portions; couplingring 23 when '4 in an inoperative cylindrical helix configuration is ofa smaller diameter than when it is installed and is arranged in a planecurve spiral configuration.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to apreferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not tobe so limited since changes and modifications may be made therein whichare within th full intended scope of this invention as hereinafterclaimed.

I claim:

1. In a luminaire including a reflector element having acircumferentially extending annular external flange portion and arefractor element having a circumferentially extending annular externalflange portion, a spiral shaped coupling ring having structure definingsubstantially a continuous recess extending along the innercircumference of said ring and with said recess being defined in part byfirst and second opposingly facing annular surfaces, said coupling ringbeing removably fitted respectively around said flange portions of saidannular elements with said first and second annular surfaces of saidcoupling recess being in surface-to-surface engaging relationship withsaid flange portions respectively of said annular elements to hold saidannular elements together, and said ring including frictional lockingmeans for restraining said ring against expansion movement includingopposing portions of said ring along the interior surface thereoffrictionally contacting and overlying other portions of said ring facingoppositely along the exterior surface thereof.

2. The combination according to claim 1 in which said ring includesmeans for wedging the overlying portions of said ring together.

3. The combination according to claim 2 in which said means for wedgingthe overlying portions of said ring together comprises beveled rimportions included in said ring.

4. The combination according to claim 3 in which the material of saidring is elastic.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein said coupling ring is formed ofelastic sheet material and the ring in radial section is shaped withsaid first and second surfaces being in angular relationship.

6. The combination of claim 3 wherein said coupling ring is of spirallength of approximately two turns.

7. The combination of claim 3 wherein said coupling ring is of a spirallength of at least one and one-half turns.

8. In a luminaire, a refractor including a circumferentially extendingflange portion defined in part by an upper annular surface and a lowerannular surface, said upper surface being at an angle relative to saidlower surface. a reflector including a circumferentially extendingflange portion disposed at an angle and engaging said upper surface,said flange portions of said refractor and said reflector beingcoaxially arranged and in vertical juxtaposition, and a spiral-shapedcoupling ring of a spiral length of at least one and one half turns,said coupling ring being formed of elastic sheet material and beinggenerally U- shaped in radial section; said coupling ring including alower rim portion, an upper rim portion extending at an angle relativeto said lower rim portion, and a substantially cylindrical base portionarranged along the outer circumference of said ring and integrallyinterconnecting said upper and lower rim portions; said coupling ringbeing removably fitted around respectively said flange portions of saidreflector and refractor with a portion of said upper rim portion andsaid lower rim portion being in surface-to-surface engaging relationshiprespectively with said flange portion of said reflector and said lowersurface of said refractor to hold said reflector and refractor together,and said ring including frictional locking means for restraining saidring against expansion movement including opposing portions of said ringalong the interior surface thereof wedgingly contacting and overlyingother portions of said ring facing oppositely along the exterior surfacethereof.

9. Means for coupling the reflector and refractor structure of aluminaire comprising external flange projection means supported on andarranged circumferentially about said reflector structure, externalflange projection means supported on and arranged circumferentiallyabout said refractor structure, and a coupling ring constrictinglysimultaneously embracing said external flange projection meansrespectively of said reflector and refractor structure, said couplingring, in operative configuration, being of plane curve spiral form andhaving structure defining a circumferential recessed interior andconstrictingly engaging simultaneously said external flange projectionsrespectively of said reflector and refractor structure, and includinglocking means including a radially inwardly arranged inner locking reachportion and an outer l0cking reach portion overreaching and frictionallymatingly lockingly engaging said inner locking reach portion of saidcoupling ring.

10. The coupling means as defined in claim 9 wherein said locking meansof said coupling ring includes an inner locking reach portion havingradially outwardly convergingly directed circumferentially extending rimsur faces and includes an outer locking reach portion having radiallyinwardly divergingly directed circumferentially extending rim surfacesin frictional locking engagement with the outwardly converginglydirected rim surfaces of said inner locking reach portion of saidcoupling ring.

11. Means for coupling the reflector and refractor structure of aluminaire comprising means defining an external circumferential flangeelement on said reflector structure, means defining an externalcircumferential flange element on said refractor structure, and acoupling ring circumferentially simultaneously embracing said flangeelements respectively of said reflector and refractor structure andholding said refractor structure together, said coupling ring beinggenerally of plane curve spiral configuration and having radially innerand outer locking portions defining locking means for preventingexpansion of said coupling ring, said inner locking portion of said ringhaving radially outwardly convergingly directed rim surfaces, said outerlocking portion having radially inwardly divergingly directed rimsurfaces of size and shape adapted for frictional mating lockingengagement with the outwardlly convergingly directed surfaces of saidinner locking portion of said coupling ring.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 245,821 8/1881 Harris 215962,147,963 2/1939 Casciotti 2l596 3,062,953 11/1962 Clark et a1 240-25FOREIGN PATENTS 364,404 1/ 1932 Great Britain.

NORTON ANSI-IER, Primary Examiner ROBERT P. GREINER, Assistant ExaminerUS. Cl. XR.

